Diaper pants



Feb. lO, 1953 A. P. HARGRAVE 2,627,859

DIAPER PANTS Filed April 25, 1952 8 ARTHUR P. HARGRAVE BY f /w/Q A'I'TORNEYS Patented Feb. 10, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE lDIAPILR PANTS Arthur P. Hargrave, Kirkland, Wash., assigner to Tot-Lines, Inc., Kirkland, Wash.

Application April 25, 1952, Serial No. 284,329

5 Claims. (Cl. 128287) My invention relates to a diaper pant formed of waterproof material and providing a pouch rfor collection of moisture in the crotch of the garment and having improved means for securing an elongated diaper pad therein.

Perhaps due to the increased post-war birthrate there has been an increased interest in recent years in the improvement of diapers. Included in this development are various diaper pants. However these diaper pants have, generally, at vleast one of two faults, either (l) being so constructed that an unnecessary amount of time is spent in replacing diapers in the pant, or (2) not efficiently performing the function of preventing excess moisture from escaping from the diaper pant.

The objects of my invention include, therefore, to devise a diaper pant in which there is provision for quickly changing diaper pads, to provide a pouch of considerable extent in the crotch 'f of the garment for the collection of excess moisture, to devise a diaper pant particularly adapted for an elongated pad, and to form a diaper pant of a more efficient and economical construction.

My invention will be best understood, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, by a reading of the following description, with reference to the drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a specific embodiment of my diaper pant, the same being in a spread-out position;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal cross-section of the diaper pant on line 2-2 of Figure 1 with a diaper pad in position therein;

Figure 3 is a transverse crosssection of the diaper pant on line 3-3 of Figure 1 with diaper pad inplace; and

Figure 4 is a perspective View of the diaper pant taken from above and looking at the front of the garment, the garment being partially fastened and the diaper pad being positioned in place.

The garment is formed essentially of two members, an outer cover member I0, and an inner liner member I2. Both members are elongated and have a major portion of their side edges conconcavely curved as shown at I4 and I6. These concavely curved edges are adapted to encircle the thighs of the infant. Liner I2 is shorter than cover I0 and has its end edges 2D, 22 spaced from the ends of cover member II).

By this -construction diaper D may be positioned on liner I2, with its ends folded over the end edges 20, 22 of liner I2 and positioned between liner I2 and cover I0, as is shown in Figure 2. The diaper may be of an elongated disposable type or may be a conventional diaper folded into an elongated shape. It will be seen that, by providing means for positioning the dia-per in this position, the maximum amount of material is positioned in the areas where the absorbent materialis most needed. At the same time the diaper may be changed with the least possible delay as the soiled diaper may be lifted out of the pant and the new diaper positioned in place merely by tucking in the ends.

The major portion of the concavely curved side edges of cover Il! and liner I2 are gathered as shown at 3@ and 32 in Figure 1. This forms a pouch running throughout the central portion of the cover I@ and liner I2. This pouch not only provides room for the double thickness of diaper D but also forms a reservoir which operates quite efficiently to collect moisture in excess of that which diaper D is `able to absorb or to hold the moisture until diaper D may absorb the same. It will be noted that cover I0 also is gathered on its rear edge at 34. The pouch area of liner I2 has a multiplicity of openings 36 therethrough affording means lfor passage of moisture from the inside of liner I2 to between liner I2 and cover Ill. The concavely curved edges 30 and 32 are secured by bindings, 31 and 38 respectively, which are sewn in place and forma substantially moisture-proof seal therebetween. It will be observed from Figure 3 that this prevents moisture collecting between cover I0 and liner I2 from escaping to the side.

Liner I2 and cover Iii are preferably formed of one of the flexible plastic materials such as polyvinyl acetate. This material is not uncomfortable to the skin, feeling about like nylon to th' touch, is moisture proof and flexible, and is inexpensive and easy to fabricate into garments. The material is also slightly elastic and, when used for bindings 31, 38, forms a somewhat elastic edge to bind the thighs for sealing the garment at the side. The other free edges of the garment are likewise bound with the same type of plastic material. It will be evident that other plastic materials, rubber, orrwaterproofed fabric could be used in place of polyvinyl acetate.

In order to save material and conveniently to attach liner I2 in place, the rear corners of cover I0 are formed of separate pieces of this plastic material as Iat 4D and 42.

Ends 4I] and 42 each carry a pair of female snap members, 5D and 52 respectively, and the opposite end of cover I0 carries preferably ten male snap members 54, arranged in groups of three and two, to afford means for adjustably securing the diaper pant to the infant. The garment may be reinforced in the area of snaps 50, 52, 54, as is common in working with this type of material.

From this description the various advantages of this structure will be seen including provision for quick changing of diapers in the diaper pant, the folding of the diaper to provide a double thickness of absorbent material in the central portion of the garment, and the forming of a pouch for collection of excess moisture.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A diaper pant, comprising: an outer cover member formed of an elongated sheet with a major portion of its sides concavely curved; an.

inner liner, positioned inside of said cover member, formed of an elongated sheet with a major portion of its side concavely curved, said liner being shorter than said cover member and having its end edges spaced from the end edges of said cover member and free from said cover member, whereby an elongated diaper pad may rest on said inner liner with its ends inserted between said liner and cover member, the central portion of said liner being substantially the same size -as the central portion of said cover member, said cover member and said liner having their concavely curved sides in said centra-l portions gathered and xedly secured together in a substantially moisture-proof manner forming a pouch of con'- siderable extent, said liner having a multiplicity of .perforations therethrough in the area of said pouch permitting moisture to pass therethrough to said cover member; said cover member and liner being formed of iiexible, moistureproof material; and fastening means in the corners of said cover member forfastening said pant about the lower body and thighs of 'an infant.

2. A diaper pant, comprising: an outer cover member formed of an elongated sheet having its central portion reduced in width relative to its end portions; an inner liner, positioned inside of said outer member, formed of an elongated Sheet having its central portion reduced in width relative to its end portions, said liner being shorter 'than said outer member and having its end edgesspaced from the end edges of said outer member and free from said outer cover member whereby an elongated diaper .pad may rest on said inner liner with its ends folded over said end edges of said liner and inserted between said liner and cover member, said outer member and said liner having a major portion of their side edges intermediate their ends gathered and secured together forming a pouch of considerable extent, said liner having a multiplicity of perforations therethrough in the area of said pouch permitting moisture to pass therethrough to said outer member; and said cover member and liner being for-med of exible moisture-proof material.

3. A diaper pant, comprising: an outer cover member formed of an elongated sheet having generally an hour-glass sha-pe; an inner liner, positioned inside of said outer member, having a closely similar shape to said cover member except being shorter; said cover member and liner being secured together near their side edges only forming together a tube shaped pocket open at its ends, whereby an elongated diaper may be laid on said liner withv its ends folded over the end edges of said liner and inserted in said tube shaped pocket; said cover member and liner being gathered along at least a major portion of said side edges intermediate the end portions forming a bulging portion of considerable extent in said tube shaped pocket for collection of moisture, said liner having a series of openings in its central portion permitting moisture to pass therethrough; and said cover member and liner being formed of flexible, moisture-proof material.

4. A diaper pant, comprising: an outer cover member forming a pant having leg openings; an elongated inner liner, positioned insideof said cover member, having one end positioned below the forward top edge of said cover member and havingits other end positioned below the rear top edge of said cover member, the end edges of saidliner being free from said cover. member, whereby an elongated diaper pad may rest onsaid inner liner with its ends folded over saidend edges of said liner and inserted between said liner and cover member, said cover member and said liner being gathered and secured together near the edges of said leg openings on the crotch sides thereof forming a pouch of considerable extent in the central portion of said liner and cover member and said 'liner having a multiplicity of openings therethrough in the area of said pouch permitting moisture to pass therethrough to said cover member; said .cover member and liner being formed of flexible, moisture-proof material.

5. Adiaper pant, comprising: an outer cover member formingfa pant having leg openings; an elongated inner liner of alength less than that ofr the outer cover member and positioned therein 'with its end margins spaced from and uncon nected to the ends `of the cover members, whereby an elongated vdiaper pad may rest on said cover and be folded over said end margins to thereby be positioned against slipping; said cover and 'liner Vmembers being secured together along their `side margins and gathered in the crotch area of the leg openings and forming a pouch of considerable extent in the medial portion ofsaid cover; said liner being perfcrate inthe crotch area to permit the seepage of moisture into said pouch; said cover and liner members being formed. of exible, moisture-.proofsheet material.

ARTHUR P. HARGRAVE.

No-reierences cited. 

